- 2-4 Days short trek
- Camping
- Fall Treks
- Moderate Grade Treks in Himalayas
- Sikkim & Darjeeling
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Bajre Dara trek:
Upcoming group tours to Bajre Dara trek starting from 24th Dec and 21st Jan 2024 as per given itinerary.
If a new and offbeat trail in Eastern Himalayas seems tempting to you, then Bajre Dara trek in Sikkim should top your bucket list. Moreover there ain’t many trekking trails in Sikkim, so this panoramic trail will surely be interesting to you.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Start from NJP or Bagdogra (latest by 9 am) and drive to Melliaching Gompa (1920 m) in west Sikkim, via Pelling and Darap – 150 km – 7/8 hours and trek to Pangreytar (1950 m)– 1.5 Km – 30 minutes. Camp.
Day 2: Trek to Bhanjyang (2250 m) via Goru Jurey – 8 km – 5/6 hours. Camp.
Day 3: Trek to Bajre Dara (3350 m)– 9 km – 6/7 hours. Camp.
Day 4: Trek to Khecheopalri Monastery (1970 m) via Bhanjyang and Lamathang – 15 km – 6/7 hours. Trekkers Hut.
Day 5: From here drive to NJP / Bagdogra – 150 km – 7/8 hours or to Pelling (if you have additional holidays) – 24 Km – 1 hour.
Note:
- You need to arrive at NJP station/Bagdogra airport/Siliguri latest by 8 am on Day 1. While returning you will reach NJP/Bagdogra on Day 5, in 7/8 hours time. You may book your train/flight after 6 pm on Day 5 or later.
- It may be convenient to arrive on Day 0 and get a good sleep for the night in Siliguri (the main city of Bagdogra/NJP) and then start fresh on Day 1. Similarly you can stay in Siliguri on Day 5 and move out anytime the next day.
- Last ATM is in Pelling. Better to withdraw any cash in Siliguri or earlier.
About the trail:
Kanchenjunga dominates the skyline of West Sikkim, so is on this trail. In fact the view from the campsite is breathtaking. On a clear day, you can see the snow clad giants of Kanchendzongha massif, Kabru North and South and Dome, Pandim, Kumbhakarna/Janu along with other peaks. You will see fairly close up views of Kanchenjunga and surrounding high mountains of Sikkim from Bajre Dara top and from many stretches of this pristine hiking trail.
Dara in Nepali means Ridge. Bajre means the place where thunder strikes frequently. Remnants of thunder stricken, burnt out, dead tree trunks still stand on top of the ridge from which the name Bajre Dara comes from.
This ridge having its top elevation at ~ 3350 m/11000 ft. The trek starts from Melliaching, a quaint village, 17 Km away from Pelling town. On the other side of the ridge you can see the foot shaped Khecheopalri lake, nestled into the rolling hills. This sacred lake is believed to be wish fulfilling one.
On Day 1 you will reach Melliaching in a 7/8 hours drive from NJP/Bagdogra. The motor road goes till the monastery located at the top of the ridge above the village. From here we walk approx 30 mins on a gentle flat trail to our campsite Pangreytar. This is a beautiful campsite with fantastic mountain views during sunrise and sunset.
From Pangreytar we will gradually climb to a hump called Gorujorey of which the last half an hour is moderately steep. From this point we will descend to our next campsite Bhanjyang nestled inside the forest.
From Bhanjyang we have a moderate climb to Bajre Dara initially inside Rhododendrons and then through the bamboo forest. On a regular day it should take 6 to 7 hours to reach the campsite at Bajre Dara. Afternoon times can be often misty and foggy, especially in Sikkim/Eastern Himalayas. However morning views are usually clear with splendid views of Kanchenjunga and surrounding snowy mountains.
From Bajre Dara top we will descend to the other side towards Khecheopalri lake. We will take the same route till Bhanjyang and from here we will take a different route to get down to Lamathang village. After crossing a stream we will climb a short ridge to reach Monastery above the lake.
The trek ends on the top of the ridge around 500 ft/150 m above Khecheopalri lake and just beside the Monastery called by the same name. Our Trekkers Hut is just beside the Gompa and you will get aerial views of the lake if you walk around. The motor road goes till Monastery and next day we will pass through the lake while returning on Day 5.
So we hope that there are good enough reasons to choose Bajre Dara trail as your next trekking destination in Sikkim Himalayas.
Bajre Dara trail: An option for experienced or a newbie hiker:
The best part is that hardly people are aware of this trail. Most possibly you won’t come across any other group apart from your team while hiking. This makes it different from common and popular hiking trails. According to the locals, Himalayan Black bear, Musk deer, Barking deer are not uncommon on this route.
Alike experienced hikers this trek is also suitable for beginners. Although you need to be in good physical condition to complete the trail comfortably. Its around 1400 m/ 4600 ft of altitude gain, split in two days of hike. Some parts of the hike includes narrow and steep climbs around Gorujurey, where you might have to scramble to negotiate the slope. Here is our complete list of Sikkim and Darjeeling treks to explore in eastern Himalayas.
Altitude and distance profile graph for Bajre Dara trek
Here you will get a pictorial representation of the trail for your understanding.
Best time for Bajre Dara trek:
Being in Eastern Himalayas (Sikkim/Nepal border) this area observes longer monsoon. Clouds start to hover from April and prolong till October beginning. There are two distinct seasons when this year trek is particularly beautiful:
1) Spring/Summer for Rhododendron season (Mar to May): From mid of March to Mid of May. Flowering starts from early March in the lower elevation, and gradually towards end of spring on higher altitude. Rhododendron and Giant Magnolia are two most famous along with several other wild flower species. Cloudy or misty atmosphere is common during Spring. Though clear mountains views are not uncommon, specially during morning.
2) Fall/Winter for clear weather (Oct to Feb): From mid October to end of February. In the beginning of October clouds start moving out from this region and weather becomes clearer. November is particularly known for its crystal clear views of the mountains.
From June to September, the trek is closed due to Monsoons.
Reaching NJP/Bagdogra and to trek base Melliaching, West Sikkim:
We will arrange a pickup from NJP/Bagdogra/Siliguri to Melliaching and a drop to NJP/Bagdogra. This will be shared by the team members on actual basis and to be paid directly to the driver. A Tata Sumo/Mahindra Bolero Jeep charges ₹ 7000 one way. One such car can accommodate up to 8 people. This cost is NOT included in the TREK FEE.
To reach the trek base Hilley the access in from NJP/Siliguri/Bagdogra. For details on how to reach nearest railways station/airport and move to trek base independently/public transportation check the details in GETTING THERE TAB. Here is an idea of the route to reach base camp Melliaching.
Permit requirements for travelling and hiking in Sikkim:
Sikkim has some restrictions regarding travelling and special permits are a must to obtain for visiting different areas.
If you are planning for extended holidays/destinations in Sikkim then check complete guide for permits requirements in Sikkim. Note that even Indians need Protected Area Permit (PAP)/Special permits for visiting entire North Sikkim/Nathu La etc. and parts of East and West Sikkim. Also it will help those people who want to travel independently in Sikkim.
(A) For Indian National:
(A) For Indian Nationals: No special permit is required for this tour. Carry an original Photo ID card with address proof on it (Aadhar/Driving Licence/Voter ID/Passport but NOT PAN CARD) & 2 photocopies of the same.
(B) For Foreign National including OCI:
All foreigner (some relaxation to Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens) will require Inner Line Permit (ILP) which is recently renamed as Restricted Area Permit (RAP) to enter the boundary of Sikkim. This is issued Free Of Cost at Sikkim check posts while you enter Sikkim by road. This takes 15/20 minutes with the strength of your passport and valid Indian VISA. Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) has to go through the same process as of a foreign national.
Note: Diplomatic passport/ID card holders need to obtain a RAP/PAP directly applying to the “Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. Of India”, through their embassy/high commission channel.
https://www.sikkimtourism.gov.in/Public/TravellerEssentials/pap
- Nationals of Pakistan, Myanmar, Nigeria and China can only apply for ILP/RAP through Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi.
- Do carry multiple copies (both hard and soft versions) of your recent passport size photo and photocopies of your documents (Passport/Visa/ILP) to avoid any showstopper on mountains!
Why treks with HT?
| Duration | 5D/4N |
|---|---|
| Grade | Moderate |
| Highest Point | 3350 m/11000 ft |
| Physicality | 5.5/10 |
| Trail Length | 32 Km |
Tour Reviews
We had a great short trek with Himalaya Trekkers up to Bajre Dara over the course of 3 days. Ram, our guide, and his team were brilliant every step of the way, providing everything from local knowledge to a seemingly endless supply of great food and snacks. Everything was meticulously organised and the views at the top were absolutely stunning! Thoroughly recommend this company for any looking to trek in this part of the world.
Had a very amazing 5D4N hike Bajre Dara trek organized by Himalaya Trekkers. Sapta from HT was very patient, understanding and helpful in terms of pre-trip planning. Our local guide – Bhaichung — was super friendly, and took great care of us during the hikes. He made sure all of us enjoy the hike and took great pains to make sure that all of us were safe. His crew also made incredible meals out in nature – giving us fuel for the hikes! All in all, a 10/10 service from the whole Himalaya Trekkers crew. GOOD JOB!
First of all, my partner and I loved every employee and team member who was part of (organizing) this trek!
They provided us with everything we needed and much more. Took our wishes into account and you can really tell they wanted to provide us with the best experience possible.
We did the Bajre Dara Trek, private tour since we wished to do it on specific data. We were quite unlucky with the weather the first days but this has nothing to do with the agency. The last two mornings (waking up at 5 a.m.) made it possible to have a clear view! In the end we did have the views we wished to have.
There is only one reason why we give a four star review instead of five:
The first drive to starting point, second and third day (hiking) were a bit too short for our taste. According to the average time it takes for people doing this trek it took them about 6 hours of trekking. My partner and I did it within 2,5 hours with breaks. We think the day could have been done within 4 days which would allowed us to see Darjeeling.
I think if your fitness levels are similar to ours (sporting 3/4 times a week, both fitness and running), you can suggest to do it in 4 days! We are pretty sure they can make it happen.
This would mean you take it a little easy on the first day or second one in order to get used to the higher altitude that you might be used to.
If it was based on the staff only we would have given it a 5 star review, 100%.
To finish our review we will say that our next trekking in India we will most defiantly book with HT again. We will for sure ask for Ram as our guide since he felt like family to us. He’s one of a kind with a good sense of humor.
The entire trail is a magical walk through the Sikkimese jungles and gives you a range of exciting experiences. It’s challenging, it will test your mettle but reward you with mesmerizing view of the Khanchendzongha and other adjacent peaks. The night on Bajre top will be cherished forever, dark, snow clad and lightnings. Must try!
I went to Bajre Dara trek with HT. The guide, food and trek were quite good. This trek is not yet commercialized, so 4 days of this trek were well spent in the nature. The guide was pretty cool. And the food was awesome.
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